Camping Adventures

This weekend was a long weekend. We went camping. It was an adventure. Let me start by saying this was our first time really camping. I mean we camp every Memorial and Labor day weekends with a group of friends, on our church lake property, but we have a building where we cook, play games, and take showers and there are a lot of us, so someone is bound to have what you forgot. And we are like 15 minutes from home. And it never rains.

This was our first time camping at a campground, by ourselves, too far from home to go get something. And we paid for it. We packed everything up on Friday and left as soon as Travis got home from work at 4pm. Note to self, you do not go through Pigeon Forge that late on a Friday night. It should have taken us about an hour and maybe 15 minutes to get to the campground.

It took 3 hours. And the entire time was spent on a 15 mile stretch. Pain in the neck tourists.

Do you know what time that puts us at? 7 p.m.

Do you know what time it gets dark? 7:25 p.m.

Do you know when the rain started? 7:20 p.m.

Fantastic.

We, new owners of a pop-up we've only put up 3 times, had to hustle big time to get the camper level and up. We keep saying we need to make a laminated card to remind us what to do next but I'm only ever reminded of it when we need it. Bummer.

We finally got it up and we go to plug it in so we could see and wouldn't you know the plug size was different than what we have. Terrific. Now we not only get to camp in the rain, but in the dark too. Thankfully when the campground owner came back from dinner he had the adapter and could bless us with lights. On to the sink hook-up and well, it leaked. All. Over. The. Floor. Splendid.

But we were having fun. Really. Who cares if it is raining, dark and we are all crammed in 5 feet of space. We had Yahtzee. And popcorn. We were good. Or at least that is what the kids thought.

It proceeded to rain, thunder and lightning all night. This is where you're expecting me to say the roof leaked. Nope. Sorry to disappoint.

The next morning was sure to be better. We were able to get a better sense of our surroundings now that there was light. It was still raining and it was muddy as could be, but the kids didn't seem to care. They enjoyed the crazy wildlife.

We had a great breakfast of pancakes and decided to go to find something to do. We packed a lunch and went to Cade's Cove. If you've never been it is worth the trip.

We enjoyed the wildlife...

the views...the hiking in the mud...

and the riding in the back of the truck looking for bears, ...

until the park ranger told us it was up to a $500 fine for riding there. We promptly climbed in the cab.

After we went back to the campground we discovered that it is impossible to start a fire when your wood is wet. The neighbor gave us dry wood and we still struggled with that dumb fire. We had tacos. I had made them at home. Lame.

We took a walk to the river behind the campground. It was beautiful and a perfect picture spot.

The kids rode their bikes...
and I lusted after the neighbor's trailer.

Made me want to watch "The Long, Long Trailer" with Lucy and Desi. And collect rocks.

We ended the night really roughing it, watching the Florida vs. LSU game on the laptop.

We spent the next day hiking on various trails and hanging out at the campground since that is what the kids wanted.

We spent the last night with a great fire (finally), ice cream cones,

and more Yahtzee.